Meet some of the people living at Allen Park in Truxton Circle who will either be displaced by the upcoming Dec. 2 clearing or placed into housing accommodations through the city’s new encampment pilot program.
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Homeless Truxton Circle residents brace for early December eviction amid pleas to halt encampment clearings

Howard University #BlackburnTakeover occupation is about more than just housing
Students, alumni and faculty are calling for the university to cancel its housing contract with Corvias, but the student occupation of Blackburn University Center is about more than housing conditions.

DC government removes tents, injures one resident, houses others, and deploys concrete barriers to enforce a ‘pedestrian passageway’
An encampment eviction was suspended for less than a day after a District worker used a small front loader to push over a tent with an individual still inside. District officials maintain the worker didn’t know someone was inside, but it raises the question: How could this happen in the first place?

Build-first redevelopment at Greenleaf Gardens may be moving out of reach
Redevelopment of the 15-acre Greenleaf Gardens housing community has been thrown into question now that developers have expressed doubts on whether new units can be built for the public housing residents before razing and redeveloping their current units.

Residents urge D.C. Health to expand resources for people experiencing homelessness
Advocates, government officials and health professionals gathered virtually for the D.C. Department of Health performance oversight hearings for the 2020 and 2021 fiscal year on March 4 and 19. Several requests were made to better support those experiencing homelessness and poverty.

People experiencing homelessness can claim their third stimulus check (and recover the first two) by filing their 2020 taxes
Local tax assistance is available to people with low-to-no-income or without a permanent address seeking to recover stimulus checks and to access other credits.

Tenants at Marbury Plaza renew a decade-old rent strike as COVID-19 exacerbates a history of neglect
The D.C. Tenants Union partnered with tenant leaders at Marbury Plaza in Southeast D.C. to organize a rent strike and push the landlord and city government for repairs and rental relief.

Tax assistance available for low-income people facing challenges collecting credits and stimulus checks
Low-income filers will be able to claim missed stimulus funds in addition to typical credits in their 2021 tax forms. Despite COVID-related difficulties, free tax preparation services and legal assistance are available to help people with less than $57,000 in yearly income.

Report highlights bias-motivated violence towards people experiencing homelessness
A report by an advocacy group studied bias-motivated crimes against people experiencing homelessness and what can be done to reduce these acts of violence.

Mutual aid groups try to fill the gaps after Inauguration week Airbnb cancellations
The D.C. Department of Human Services is matching people experiencing homelessness to donated Airbnbs, or outright paying for hotel rooms, to help them stay safe during the week of Inauguration.

Bezos charity makes major donation in and around DC, grows philanthropic presence in region
The Bezos Day One Families Fund made $2.5 million donations to four D.C-area nonprofits in a major step for Amazon-related charity work in the region.

Coronavirus exposes “people that we missed” amid homelessness crisis
Local D.C. advocacy group People for Fairness Coalition called for a greater investment in ending homelessness during 2020’s Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day.

Solar Works DC program creates jobs and can reduce expenses for low-income households
Solar Works D.C., through the DDOE, employs low-income residents in a solar installation and job training program. Panels are installed across the District, and low-income residents can request installations for free.

The at-large candidates who want to change or enhance DC’s rapid rehousing program
Candidates for the D.C. Council’s At-large seats have made reform or improvement of the District’s rapid rehousing program, which has often been the target of attack from housing advocates, part of their campaign platforms.

Homeless service providers receive millions in PPP loans
At least 14 homeless service providers received loans from the federal program for small businesses, which went towards covering payroll costs to retain employees and maintain critical services for the District’s most vulnerable residents.

What can happen when the police are asked to respond to a mental health crisis in DC?
After an initial arrest that resulted in a stay-away order regarding the White House grounds and Black Lives Matte Plaza, a reportedly homeless man in need of mental health care now faces compounded charges. DC’s proposed FY 2021 budget includes no major expansions of behavioral health support for people in the criminal justice system.

DC Council increases funding for affordable housing and homeless services, but advocates warn budget still falls short
The amended budget, which increases funding for building new affordable housing units, providing tenants with rental relief and extending social services, faces a final vote by the Council on July 21, after which it will be submitted to the Mayor.

Bowser’s budget cuts funding for affordable housing. Advocates say DC’s Black residents will be left behind
The new proposed budget would not do enough to alter chronic homelessness and would disportionately hurt communities of color, housing providers said. They urged D.C. to restore funding by looking at other areas of the budget and increasing taxes on the wealthy.

The global pandemic and political discord highlight the importance of the Poor People’s Campaign
The Mass Poor People’s Assembly and Moral March on Washington planned for this month will be digital, due to the ongoing pandemic. Organizers hope the assembly will bring about change while COVID-19 disproportionately affects poor and Black Americans and nationwide protests demand reckoning with systemic racism.

No significant funding added to Emergency Rental Assistance Program despite ongoing effects of COVID-19
Proposed funding for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program in fiscal year 2021 has decreased by $15,000 compared to what was approved this year.